Parents protest at Guv Mansion for classroom cameras

Although Gov. Rick Perry is traveling in the Northeast, a group of about 30 parents of disabled children protested in front of the Governor’s Mansion Tuesday morning for lawmakers to be able to consider legislation requiring cameras in special education classrooms housing students with limited verbal skills.

Houston special education advocate Louis Geigerman said the group wants Perry to add the issue to the special session’s agenda to protect a vulnerable population he says has suffered abuse at the hands of educators. A bill requiring cameras died at the last minute during the Legislature’s regular session when it failed to be placed on the House calendar for debate.

“The way the bill got quashed was horrific,” he said. “We can’t wait 15 months. We are sending a message.”

Geigerman said it is difficult to prosecute school employees for physical abuse, but especially when the victim has limited verbal ability. He cited a Fort Bend Independent School District incident in which a special education student was placed in a filing cabinet for misbehaving. That teacher was never prosecuted, he said.

Perry has indicated he will not add any more issues to the special session agenda, which ends next week.